Stellies sink Sekhukhune amid torrential rains
Stellenbosch FC overcame challenging weather conditions to secure an impressive 3-1 win over Sekhukhune United in their Betway Premiership encounter.
Stellenbosch FC returned to winning ways on Friday evening after claiming a 3-1 win over Sekhukhune United at Athlone Stadium, courtesy of goals from Kazie Enyinnaya, Genino Palace, and Chumani Butsaka.
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With 10 points separating the sides heading into the match, Stellenbosch may have been expected to start on the back foot, but the hosts did well to absorb early pressure from Babina Noko before striking at the other end through Enyinnaya.
The Nigeria international intercepted a pass on the halfway line before turning defence into attack, sprinting the full length of the opposition half before firing an unstoppable right-footed effort past Renaldo Leaner.
Sekhukhune looked to hit back and would have found an equaliser were it not for the heroics of Stellies captain Sage Stephens, who pulled off a brilliant double save to deny Keletso Makgalwa with just over half an hour played.
Tshegofatso Mabasa then thought he had doubled Stellenbosch’s lead after latching onto a neat pass from Thapelo Mokobodi, but was left disappointed after a tight offside call ruled out his effort.
Stellies’ next goal would follow just seconds later, however, as from the restart, Leaner mistakenly passed the ball to Genino Palace, who kept his composure to score his third goal in his last four appearances for the Maroons.
That’s how it remained at half-time as the two sides headed into their respective dressing rooms in search of a reprieve from the torrential downpours buffeting Athlone Stadium.
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Alas, the rain continued to bucket down in the second half but it did not deter the performance on the field, as Stellies fashioned an early chance through Mthetheleli Mthiyane. The midfielder could only fire his effort straight at Leaner.
However, as the team from the Winelands pushed forward in search of the goal to put the game to bed, Sekhukhune United struck at the other end through Bright Ndlovu, who put the finishing touches to an excellent counter-attack.
Notions that the goal could swing the momentum of the match were quickly quelled, though, as just minutes later, Chumani Butsaka capitalised on another error from the opposition keeper to restore his side’s two-goal cushion and ultimately secure all three points.
“It was a hell of a game,” Stellenbosch coach Gavin Hunt said after the match. “It was end-to-end stuff, but it was a bit too open for me. There was no control from either team, and they [Sekhukhune] could have had one or two goals themselves in the first half.
“We started the second half well. We had three or four big chances which we didn’t take, and then they scored, and then we scored… But, all in all, we did well for the victory.
“I thought the game was a little bit too open and transitional, which I don’t like because it’s a bit too edgy, but where we are now compared to where we were in January is the most important thing.”